EAST LANSING -
Head coach Jake Boss Jr. announced today (Aug. 7) that Skylar Meade has joined the Michigan State baseball staff as the program's pitching coach. Meade comes to MSU from Middle Tennessee State where he served in the same role for the past two seasons.

"We are very excited to add Skylar Meade to the Spartan family," said Boss. "He is an outstanding pitching mind who has a proven track record of success in each step of his career. As a player, Skylar experienced the pinnacle of college baseball in competing in the College World Series and will bring a tremendous work ethic and attention to detail to East Lansing."

"I want to thank Coach Boss first and foremost for giving me the opportunity to work at a prestigious school like Michigan State in a great conference," said Meade. "Everyone I have met at MSU has been unbelievable and I couldn't be more excited to be involved. I'm looking forward to building off all the exceptional things that Coach Van Ameyde has done here and continuing to move the program forward.

"I also want to thank Coach Jim McGuire and everyone I worked with at Middle Tennessee State for the terrific opportunity they provided."

Under Meade's tutelage, the MTSU pitching staff lowered its team ERA in each of his two seasons at the school. Last season, the Blue Raiders posted their lowest team ERA since 2001 (4.10) as they finished fourth in their inaugural season in Conference USA.

Meade mentored MTSU's Zac Curtis, who was selected in the sixth round of this year's MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Curtis, a first-team All-Conference USA selection, ended the regular season as the nation's leader in strikeouts with 136.

In 2013, Meade oversaw closer Daniel Palo post a 2.64 ERA with eight saves. Palo later went on to be drafted in the 27th round by the Colorado Rockies.

Prior to joining the staff at MTSU, Meade worked for five seasons at Eastern Illinois, first as a graduate assistant and then as assistant coach in 2009. EIU posted one of the Ohio Valley Conference's best rotations during his time at the school. The Panthers sported the best team ERA in the OVC in four of his five years - 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012 - while finishing second in 2009.

Meade assisted in coaching the Panthers to the 2009 OVC regular-season title and a 31-19 record. The year prior, EIU captured the 2008 OVC Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in school history.

During his tenure at EIU, Meade saw a number of his pitchers rack up Ohio Valley Conference accolades in addition to being selected in the MLB Draft.

In 2010, Josh Mueller was drafted in the 13th round of the MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, while teammate Mike Recchia signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.

Tyler Kehrer, who led the OVC in strikeouts and opponent batting average in 2009, became the highest drafted EIU player since 1988, as he was taken 48th overall by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Compensation Round A.

Meade joined the coaching staff at EIU after his playing career at the University of Louisville. With the Cardinals, Meade anchored a pitching staff that helped lead Louisville to the 2007 College World Series. The left-handed pitcher recorded nine wins in 2007 and limited opposing batters to a .247 average. He concluded his career with a 16-7 record, including a 5-1 mark in conference action.

The native of Louisville, Kentucky, earned a bachelor's degree in sports administration from Louisville in 2007 and completed a master's degree in kinesiology and sports studies (sports management) in the summer of 2009 from EIU.